Most interesting, I see from afar, is Saskatoon. I saw a poll around Labour Day which had the current Mayor and left-wing challenger Charlie Clark tied at roughly 27%. What I find interesting is that when asked about their preferences, nearly 7 in 10 voters preferred someone other than the man currently there. You look at that, plust the fact that in 2012 Tom Wolfe essentially came out of nowhere and nearly beat him says something. If the "Scratch Atch" vote can coalesce behind one candidate, he is done. Interesingly enough, Atchison does lose, he will be the third consecutive Mayor to be thrown out of office.

Any word from Regina? Mike Fouguere became Mayor on a platform to continue on the right-wing path of his predecessor, Pat Fiacco. I haven't heard word of any challengers. Are there any? Is there any indication that the left will get past the fact that the wards are drawn to mingle urban and suburban wards, thereby putting the left at a structural disadvantage?

What about other cities? Will a strong left-wing showing have any implications for Brad Wall?

Atchison is tied with Kelley Moore, whose policies are in some ways similar to Athisons - offloading business tax onto residents, for example. Clark is further behind, though the polls are not necessarily to be trusted.

Deb Higgins in Moose Jaw is a race to watch. She was Minister of Social Services in Lorne Calvert's NDP government, and when defeated, ran for mayor in 2012, narrowly beating out Frasier Tolmie, a one-term city counsellor from the military base. Frazier Tolmie was combatitive on city council, and reduced the mayoral election to one of party politics which is a no-no in municipal elections. Anyway, he tried to capitalize on the political divide in the city of Moose Jaw and failed, and he is back now for another polarizing round against Mayor Higgins again this year. Anyway, Moose Jaw is a showdown between right-wing gutter sleaze disruption vs seasoned normalcy.

Fraser Tolmie tried to run as a Conservative candidate in the last Federal election but he did not submit his paperwork to the Conservative party in time and claimed that the political process was rigged against him. Sept 24. Nathan Liewiki. Regina Leader Post. "Hard Feelings Linger in Moose Jaw Tory Race."

The thing that still perplexes me about Saskatoon politics is why Atch thought he had a chance to win this time around when in 2012 he nearly lost to a guy with no name recognition, no organized campaign, and no time to do anything about that.